Locomotive smoke-box.



W. 1.. TOLLERTON.

YL'OCOMOTIVE SMOKE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-7.1915.

1&4: Q50 Patented July 24, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET l- I. TOLLERTON LOCOMOTIVE SMOKE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, I915.

Patented July 24, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 fiilibaza] W. J. TOLLERTON.

LOCOMOTIVE SMOKE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-7. 1915.

Patented July 24, 1917 3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

imi/J ourmn.

WILLIAM JAMES TOLLERTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LOCOMOTIVE SMOKE-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24:, 19M.

Application filed August 7, 1915. Serial No. 44,148.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM- JAMEs TOL- LERTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful I-H'IPIOVGII'IGIltS in Locomotive Smoke-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to the smoke-boxes of railroad locomotives and engines, and particularly to the construction of the s nu'k-arrcster therein and the relative position of the same to the door in the front end of the smoke-box.

The smoke-box of a modern locomotive is a very crowded compartment and under the most favorable conditions it is ,difiicult to do repairing therein. Heretofore, when the spark-arrester needed repairs, it was customary for the mechanic to crawl into the smoke-box, or even into the spark-arrester itself, and, owing to the limited space, to awkwardly attend to such repairing as was necessary, oftentimes in such stifling heat and soot as to seriously endanger his health. when it was desired to'repair the superheater, which is located to the rear of the spark-arrester, it was necessary to dismantle the spark-arrester and remove it piece by piece, or to remove the entire front end of the locomotive and theniremove the spark-arrester. tives usually weigh over a thousand pounds (1000 lbs.) avoirdupois, more or less, and. as

very few round-houses are provided with overhead crane service the removal and replacing of said front end is a great strain on the workmen and very dangerous.

. The object of my invention is to overcome these difiiculties and to so construct the spark-arrester and provide a suitably closed alining opening in the front end of the locomotive that the spark-arrester in its entirety can be removed in a comparatively easy manner out through said opening and repaired, or can-be removed in a similar manner to afford easy'access to the superheater, and then replaced in its. entirety without the exercise of great'physical strain. In addition to these benefits, the employment of the special form of spark-arrester which my invention makes desirable resists the discharge of the sparks and cinder-s while permitting the free exhaust of the gaseous products-of combustion. These and other objects I accomplish by the means The front ends of locomo- I hereinafter fully described, and as particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the front end of a locomotive boiler and smoke-box embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof taken on dotted line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the door in the front end of the spark-arrester, drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a plan view-of the nozzle of the exhaust stand removed from the smokeboX.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a broken away portion ofthe nozzle and saddle drawn to a larger scale.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are outline drawings of the front end of the spark-arrester showing diiferent shapes thereof.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are side views of the spark-arrester shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, respectively.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatical view of the front end of a locomotive in outline showing the manner of operating my improvements.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the shell ofthe forward end of a locomotive; B represents the front tube-sheet of the "boiler; C represents the front endplate; D represents the door closing the opening in said front end-plate G through which access 'is had to the smoke-box inclosed between the latter and sheet B, and E represents the superheater located in the rear upper portion of the smoke-box. The superheater, shown in the drawings, is connected to the dry-pipe a of the boiler and is provided with return superheater tubes 6 that traverse the enlarged fines a, but as it is obvious that any superheater can be used in any locomotive to which my improvements are applied, I do not desire to be confined to the particular type of superheater above referred to. The superheater is separated from the remainder of the smoke-box by a vertically disposed diaphragm 3 the edges of the upper and side portions of which-are suitably secured to the inner circumference of shell A, and which extends down to a suitable point above the bottom of the smoke-box, say, to about the horizontal plane of the bottom of the spark-arrester, (which will hereinafter be described), where it is connected to a transverse angleiron bar 4, which bridges across the smokethe plane of the enlarged tubes that are traversed by the superheater tubes, and has its lower front edge terminate in substantially the same horizontal plane as anglebard. There is a space left between the I pass the shell of the smoke-box,

front edge of inclined plate 5 and said bar 4 through which the products of combustion from the boiler flues discharge, and this discharge opening is controlled by a butterfly damper 6 the transverse shaft ofwhich is, journaled in suitable bearings in the "shell of the smoke-box and has one end (not shown) extend through, its hearings to enable it to be -'manipulated from the outside. When closed the forward wing of this damper engages the underside of angle-bar 4'.

The. horizontal flange of angle-bar a rests upon posed sheet metal table 7 which latterextends from side to side of the smoke-box and has its end edges secured to and supported by angle-iron brackets 8.- It has a central opening 9 therein to accommodate the top of the nozzle 10 of the exhaust-stand 11 and a suitable distance in front .of said exhaus't-standand nozzle ,it rests upon and is supported bya transverse. angle-bar 12, which latter in section is of an obtuse angular shape, and has its angularflange inclined downward, substantially as shown. The forward portion of table 7 extends beyond angle-bar 12 and is inclined downward to form an apron 13, and this apron is provided'with a series of vertically elongated openings 14 for the reception of suitable bolts 15, by. means of which an apron extension. 16 consisting of a transverse flat plate can be adjusted vertically to regulate the space between its lower horizontal edge andthe lower segment of the shell of the smoke-boxout through which the products of combustion from the fines of the boiler in transit to the smoke stack 17.

Stack 17 is similar in construction to a type now in extensive use, and its lower portion, below the flanges thereof that rest upon enters the smoke box and has a frustum shaped stack extension: 18 securedithereto. of this extension is provided with a' similar flange that is seated upon and secured to the margins of a suitable opening in the top of a tubular spark-arrester G in alinement with the vertical axis of the exhaust-stand 11 and its nozzle 10. The axis of this Sparkarrester, is preferably, horizontal, and is usually in a horizontal plane above the axis of the shell ofthe smo e-box and in ahnethe rear edge of a horizontally dis- The lower end naaaase ment'with the axis of doorD closing the opening in the front end-plate C of the locomotive, which latter is'of a sufiicient diameter to permit of the spark-arrester being withdrawn. I

. The shell of this spark-arrester consists of wire netting or other suitable foraminous material, and it may be perfectly cylindrical, or elliptical, or rectangular, or polygonal in cross-section, or of any other desired shape in cross-section, preferably with' its axis horizontal to facilitate its being removed longitudinally out through door I). I prefer, however, to taper this spark-arrester from its front end to its rear end and to so arrange it that its lowest segment will end thereof. Y

The flanged lower end of stack-extension l '18 is secured to the netting of the sparkarrester by bolts 19, which latter extend down through its lower flange and said netting, and through a fiat annular ring 20, and have suitable nuts 21 on their lower ends. There is also a suitable opening in the lower segment of the spark-arrester 1n al'inement with the axis of the. stack and exhaust-stand 11, and. said spark-arrester rests upon and is supported a suitable distance a ove table 7 by a suitable rectangular shaped saddle 22, the bottom of which latter is provided with a comparatively large opening 23 up through which nozzle 10 discharges, and the frame of which surrounding this opening is Z-shap'ecl in cross-section.

The upper edges 2aofnozzle 10 are flanged horizontally'outwardand the bottom or inwardly projecting flange of the Z-shaped frameof saddle 22 is'bolted tosaid flanged I edges '24:. If desired the nozzle and saddle could be combined in one casting and the necessity of bolting them together be avoided. A suitably shaped plate 25 is clamped between the saddle and the nozzle, the dimensions of which are suflicient to close opening 9 in table 7 up through which nozzle 10 discharges, substantially as shown. The upper outwardly projecting flanges 26 of the saddle are secured to the netting of the spark-arrester by means of bolts 27 that extend therethrough'. and through said netting and through the rectangular liner 28, substantially as shown. Justbelow flange 24, nozzle 10 is. provided with an annular chamber 29 which is supplied with saturated steam from the boiler or drysteam from the superheater by a pipe 30 and is provided with aseries of discharge jets 31 surrounding its discharge opening that assist in the end of a longitudinall disposed bar 33, which latter is, prefera ly, made of angleiron and has its forward end inserted in and suitably secured ina boss 34 secured either to the front ring 35 of the shell of the smokebox or to the front end-plate C. In front of the stack-extension 18, an eye 36 is secured to "the uppermost segment of the spark-arrester, which hasa threaded shank extending through the netting and provided with a nut on the underside of the same. The eye on the lower end of a hook. 37 is linked to this eye 36 and the upper bent end of this hookengages a ring 38 that surrounds and is adapted to slide back and forth on bar 33.

l[ have shown the rear end 39 of the sparkarrester. of imperforate sheet metal, but it is obvious that it may be made of netting, if desired.

The front end of the spark-arrester is, preferably, made of wire netting, and has a doorway or opening therein, which is, preferably, rectangular .and is surrounded by a rectangular metal frame. The lower horizontal member 42 and the vertical members 43 of this frame are Z-shape in section; one of the flanges of these members being riveted to the netting and the other parallel ofiset flange 44 thereof projecting inward over and in front of the edges of'the doorway. The door 45 for closing this doorway opening is also made of wire netting and its edges are bound by a rectangular metal frame the lower horizontal portion 46 of which and the vertical portions 47, 47, of which are Y-shaped inv cross-section, with the bifurcated or divided members extending outward in planes parallel to the net-' ting to which latter the single member is riveted or otherwise suitably secured. The upper horizontal member of the doorway frame is flat and is a continuation only of the inner flange of the Z-sectioned side-members thereof, and the upper member of the door is alsofiat and constitutes a continuation of the single member of the Y-shaped side sections thereof. "The divided member of the sides of the frame of the door engages and slides up andsdown on the outer flanges of the sidesof the frame of the doorway when the same is opened or closed, and when said door is down the divisions of the divided member-of the Y-section lower edge of the door straddle and are supported by the outer flange of the Z-sectioned lower member of the doorway frame. In order to raise this door 45 up or down, it is provided with a handle 48. When raised a nail driven through the netting of the door and of the end of the spark-arrester will hold it up. When the nail or other support is removed gravity will close said door. While I prefer to construct this door as ust described, it is obvious it may be constructed in any other suitable manner.

To utilize my invention either for the purpose of repairing the spark-arrest'er or for repairing the superheater or other features of the interior of the smoke-box, the door in the front-plate is opened, and then the workman opens the spark arrester door and reaches into the same and removes the bolts that secure it to saddle 22 and to the stack-extension. The handle is then seized and the spark-arrester in its entirety is then pulled forward out through the opening in front-plate C until the forward movement of the suspending hook 37 is stopped by coming in contact with the forward supporting boss 34 of the tram-bar, or until, in

the judgment of the workmen, the sparkarrester is in the proper position to enable them to reach in through the opening in the front-plate and release hook 37 from bar 33. Making the spark-arrester tubular enables it to be made very compact, and greatly reduces the number of seams, which, in spark-arresters now in common use, is the invariable cause of front ends throwing sparks, and this tubular shape facilitates its removal through opening in the front-plate. Making the spark-arrester practically entirely of wire netting or other foraminous material presents, particularly in the preferred frustum of a cone-shape, or in the cylindrical forms, a foraminous surface which retards and arrests the expelled solid products of combustion in a much more satisfactory manner than the fiat foraminous surface of spark arresters now in general use.

When the repairs have been made either to the superhaater or other features con tained in the smoke-box, or to the sparkarrester itself, the rear end of the, latter is inserted in the opening of the front-plateand it is shoved back until it is in position for. the suspending hook thereof to be replaced on the tram-bar, and then, when this is done, the spark-arrester is pushed back until it is in its proper assembled position relative to the saddle and the stack-extension, and then it is bolted, in the-manner and door D closed and fastenedqf It will be understood that the transverse section of the spark-arrester will be such as to best fit the design of the features of its environs and that by making its sides of one piece a'great elimination of joints and seams is accomplished, and attention is called to the fact that the manner in which it is supported allows a greater area of foraminous spark-arrester surface'and permits it to fit over and to be used in connection with the exhaust nozzles now in extensive use with little or no change, and that the removal of hereinbefore explained, to thosemembers,

this spark-arrester in its entirety is accomplished by the removal of but=a very few bolts.

What I claim as new is 1. A locomotive boiler comprising a smokebox, a plate for closing the front end thereof having a door-opening therein, a door for closing said opening, a smoke-stack having a downward extension entering said smoke-box, an exhauststeam nozzle in the lower part of said smoke-box, and alongitudinally disposed tubular spark-arrester longitudinally removable between said nozzle and stack extension, the transverse dimensionsof which are less than thearea of said door opening through which latter it is removable endwise in itsentirety.

2. A locomotive boiler comprising a smokebox, a front-plate closing the front end of the same and having a door opening therein, a door for closing said opening, a smokestack having an extension entering said smoke-box, a nozzle in the lower part of said smoke-stack opposite said stack, a longitudinally disposed frustum-shaped spark arrester the transverse dimensions of which, are less than the area of said opening, and means for detachably securing said spark arrester to said stack-extension and nozzle, which spark-arrester is adapted when detached therefrom to be moved endwise in its entirety through said door-opening independently of said door.

3. A locomotive boiler comprising a smokebox having a closed front end that has an opening therein, a door for closing said opening, a smoke-stack projecting from the top of the smoke-box, an exhaust-nozzle in the bottom of said smoke-box in vertical alinement with said stack, a saddle removably attached to the top of said nozzle, a longitudinally disposed tubular spark-arrester supported by and between said stack and saddle to the horizontal axis of which its axis is substantially at right angles and in alinement with said opening through which it is adaptedto be moved endwise in its entirety independently of said door, a longitudinally disposed bar connecting said stack and front of the smoke-box, and means slidably mounted on said bar for suspending said, spark-arrester.

4. In a locomotive boiler, a smoke-box, a front end-plate for the same having an opening therein, a door for closing said opening, a smoke-stack, an extension therefor depending into said smoke-box the lower edges of which are flanged outward, and an exhaust nozzle in the lower part of said box,

in combination with a tubular spark-arrester which is substantially cylindrical and less in diameter than the transverse dimensions of said opening and which has its axis horizontal and its sides foraminous from its front to its rear closed end; said spark-arrester being removably secured to the flanged edges of said superposed stack-extension and indirectly supported by and removably secured to the upper end of said nozzle and adapted to be removed by endwise movement in its entirety out through said openmg.

5. In a locomotive boiler, a smoke-box, a front end-plate for the same having an opening therein, a smoke-stack, an a extension therefor depending into said smoke-box and having its lower edges flanged, and an exhaust nozzle in the lower part of said box, in combination with a tubular spark-arrester the transverse contours of which are substantially circular throughout its length and less in diameter than the transverse dimensions of said opening but has its upper side inclined downward from its frontto its rear closed end, and has its axis horizontal and its sides foraminous throughout its length; said spark-arrester being directly removably secured to the lower flanged edges of said superposed staclrextension and supported by and indirectly and removably secured to the upper end of said nozzle and adapted to be removed by an endwise movement in its entirety out through said opening.

6. In a, locomotive boiler, a smoke-box, a front end-plate for the same having an opening therein, a smoke-stack, an GXtQH sion therefor depending into said smoke-box the lower edges of which are flanged, an exhaust nozzle in the lower part of said box, and a saddle having flanged upper edges and mounted upon and removably secured to the upper end of said nozzle, in combination with a tubular spark-arrester the transverse contours of which are substantially circular throughout its length and less in diameter than thetransverse dimensions of said opening and has its upper side inclined downward from its front to its rear closed end and has its axis horizontal and its sides foraminous throughout its length; said spark-arrester being directly removably secured to the flanged lower edges of said superposed stack-extension and supported by and removably secured upon said saddle and adapted to be removed endwise in its entirety out through said opening independently of said door.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of August, 1915.

WILLIAM JAMES TOLLERTON.

W'itnesses GEO. S. Goonwm, EDWARD A. VVooowonrH. 

